Exercise device



Oct. 7, 1958 R. P. NOLAND ETIAL 2,855,199

EXERCISE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1955 INVENTOR.

P. AfilA/VD FfRD/A/AIVD A. KUCK/IWFF BY ferred embodiment has UnitedStates Patent ()fifice 2,855,199 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 EXERCISE DEVICEApplication November 9, 1955, Serial No. 545,902 Claims. (Cl. 272-58)This invention relates generally to exercise devices and moreparticularly to exercise devices for use in physical therapy.

In recent years, progressive resistance exercise has been commonly usedin physical therapy treatment. It has been found, however, that devicesfor providing exercise of this type in a convenient and eflicient mannerare not available.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide anexercise device for giving progressive resistance exercise in aconvenient and efficient manner.

Another object of the cise device of the above character for givingprogressive resistance exercise to hamstrings and quadriceps femorismuscle groups.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device of theabove character in which the resistance patterns can be varied. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device of theabove character in which both muscle groups may be exercised either inthe face-lying or sitting position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device of theabove character in which maximum resistance can be given at any point inthe range of motion of the muscle group being exercised.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercise device ofthe above character in which both muscle groups may be exercised throughtheir full range of motion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an exercise deviceof the above character which also may be used for giving gradedassistive exercises.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the prebeen set forth in detail inconjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device embodying ourinvention and showing use of the invention for giving resistiveexercises.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the exercise table with theexercise unit removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the table with theexercise unit removed. a

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial side elevational View showing theexercise device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial front elevational view showing ourexercise unit with certain parts in cross section.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In general, the present invention consists of an exercise table uponwhich is detachably mounted an exercise unit. we have shown an exercisetable 11 and an exercise unit 12 detachably mounted on the table. Theexercise table consists of a suitable framework such as a pair ofU-shaped tubular members 13 and "T 17 may be fastened to the tubular 14to provide the legs for the table. A pad 16 is mounted upon a sheet 17of rigid material such as plywood which is fixed to U-shaped tubularmembers 13 and '14 by suitable means such as screws 18.

A horizontal tubular member 19 connects tubular member 13 and 14 andserves as a support for thefront portion of the sheet of material 17. AU-shaped tubular member 21 is connected to the rear portions of tubularmembers 13 and 14 and forms a support for the rear portion of the sheetof material 17. The sheetof material members 19 and 21 by additionalscrews 18. A tubular bracing member 23 connects the lower front portionsof the tubular members 13 and 14. The sheet of material 17 and the pad16 are provided with cut-out portions 24 and 26 to provide room for theexercise units 12.

I a U-shaped channel member 32 end closed and which is fixed toinvention is to provide an exer- 7 member 52 and the leg we found aspacing of 30 A pair of mounting brackets 28 and 29 are mounted upon theexercise table 11, one being mounted on the inner front portion of eachof the U-shaped members 13 and 14. Each of the mounting brackets isprovided with which has its bottom the mounting bracket by suitablemeans such as welding.

The exercise unit 12 consists of a mounting arm.36 which is adapted tobe carried by one. of the channel members 32 on the mounting brackets 28or 29. A hub 37 is mounted 'on the upper end of the mounting arm 36 andis provided with a centrally aligned bore 38 which extends at rightangles to the mounting arm 36. A bushing 39 is carried within the bore38 and serves as a bearing for a shaft 41. A leg arm assembly 42 ismounted on one end of the shaft 41 and a weight arm assembly 43 ismounted on the other end of the shaft 41.

The leg arm assembly 42 consists of a leg arm 46 which is fixed to shaft41 by suitable means such as a hub 47 Which is fixed to the shaft 41 bya key 48 and set screws 49.

' A leg rest 51 is mounted on the leg arm and is adapted for movementlongitudinally of the leg arm. The leg rests consists of a guide member52 which is slidably mounted on the leg arm and is adapted to be held inposition along the length of the arm by thumb screw 53. A stub shaft 56is mounted on guide member 52 by suitable means such as a pressed fitinto a collar 57 mounted. on the guide member and extends at rightangles to the guide arm 46. A hub 58 is rotatably mounted on the shaft56 and is held in position by a screw 59 threaded into the hub andengaging a groove 61 in the stub shaft 56. A U-shaped member 62 is fixedto the hub 58. A strap 63 of resilient material has its ends fixed tothe U-shaped member 62 by suitabe means such as screws 64 threaded intothe butt plates 66 adjacent the ends of the straps. It is apparent fromthe foregoing that the U-shaped member 62 is adapted to rotate on thestub shaft 56.

The weight arm assembly attached to the other end of the shaft 41consists of a weight arm 69 also having a hub 71 at its upper end. Thehub 71 is mounted on shaft 41 adjacent a selector dial 72 which has anextension 73 journalled within hub 37 and fixed to the shaft 41 bysuitable means such as a key 74. Hub 74 is rotatably mounted on shaft 41and is retained thereon by suitable means such as a lock spring 76mounted within a groove 77 in the shaft 41.

A supporting member 78 is mounted in an opening in the weight arm 69adjacent the hub 71 by screws 79.

A lock pin 81 is retractably mounted in the member 78 spaced in anysuitable manner however between holes to be'satisfactory. A spring 83mounted on the lock pin 81 serves to continuously -urge the lock pin 81towards the holes 82. One end of the spring 83 engages a flange 84 onthe lock pin and the other end of the spring 83 engages the wall 86 ofthe supporting member 78. A knob 87 is mounted on theend of the lock pinopposite the end adapted to engage the holes 82 and facilitateswithdrawal of the lock pin from the holes 82.

The lower end of the weight arm 69 is provided with a weight rodassembly 89 which is slidably mounted on the weight arm 69 for movementlongitudinally of the weight arm. The weight rod assembly 89 consists ofa guide member 91 which is slidably mounted on the weight arm 69 and isadapted to be held in any predetermined position longitudinal of theweight arm by a thumb screw 92. A weight rod 93 extends at right anglesfrom the guide member 91 and the weight arm 69 and is threaded into acollar 94 fixed to the guide member 91. The outer end of the weight rod93 is provided with a flanged head 96 to prevent the weights 87 carriedby the weight rod from slipping off.

The lower end of the weight arm 69 is provided with a bolt 98 to preventthe weight rod assembly 89 from accidentally slipping off of the weightarm 69 in case thumb screw 92 should he accidentally loosened.

A pointer 101 is mounted on the hub 37 by bolt 102 which is threadedinto the hub. The pointer is spaced from the hub by spacer 103. Thespacer 103 also serves as a stop to prevent accidental over rotation ofthe weight arm 69. It will be noted from Figure 4 that one end of thelock pin 81 extends through the holes in the selector dial 72 and isadapted to engage the spacer 103 to prevent over rotation.

The selector dial 72 is so mounted on the shaft 41 that the pointer 101is at zero when the leg arm 46 is in a downward or depending position.The selector dial may be calibrated in any suitable manner. However, wehave found it desirable to calibrate in units of from one to six in eachdirection from zero. In this way the units correspond to the spacing ofthe holes 82 in the selector dial 72.

Operation of our exercise device may now be briefly described asfollows:

Let it be assumed that the leg arm assembly 42 and the weight armassembly 43 are in the position shown in Figure 5 and that it is desiredto give progressive resistance exercise to a patient. The patient takesa sitting position as in Figure l or a face lying position. The guidemember 91 is moved to the proper position on the weight arm 69 and thethumb screw 92 is tightened to hold the guide member in that position.The desired number of weights 97 are then placed on the weight rod 93.The patient if sitting in the position shown in Figure 1 then places hisleg behind the leg rest 51. The leg rest is rotated so that the strap 63is facing the leg and the guide member 52 is positioned so that thestrap 63 is at the distal tibial crest. The patient then exercises hisleg by repeatedly moving the weight arm 69 upwardly to a substantiallyhorizontal position and then lowering it.

The angular relationship between the leg arm 46 and theweight arm 69 canbe varied by withdrawing the lock pin 81 and rotating the weight arm 69while holding the leg arm 46 stationary. When the weight arm 69 has beenmoved to the proper angular position, the lock pin 81 is releasedallowing it to engage the nearest hole 82 in the selector dial 72. Themaximum resistance potential is reached when the weight arm ishorizontal. By altering the angular position between the weight arm 69and the leg arm 46, it is apparent that maximum resistance or assistancecan be given at any point through the range of motion of the leg.

The selector scale 72 is graduated into a suitable number of divisions.In this instance we have used twelve divisions each representing 30. Theholes 82 have also been spaced 30 apart.

The pointer 101 is used for determining the range of exercises can be.given in only two positions.

motion of the leg being exercised. The selector dial 72 is in a zeroposition when the leg arm 46 is in a depending vertical position. Whenthe pin 81 engages a hole 82, the position of the weight arm relative tothe leg arm is fixed and movement of the leg arm will cause comparablemovement of the weight arm. Thus the range of motion of the leg beingexercised and the point in the range of motion where maximum resistancewill occur can be readily determined.

The position shown in Figure 1 is particnlarly adapted for givingquadriceps femoris exercises. 'It will be noted that the distal part ofthe thigh is elevated so that the femur rests in a horizontal position.The axis of the knee joint is more or less in alignment with the axis ofthe shaft 41. In this position, as hereinbefore described, the leg rest51 is placed at the distal tibial crest.

To provide progressive resistance exercises for the h m t nas, t e patnt l ak s a sit n p s ti n and the leg rest 51 isplaced above thecalcaneus.

The patient may also be placed in a face-lying position and placing theleg rest 51 in approximately the same positions for exercise of the samemuscle groups. It is merely necessary to shift the angle of the weightarm 69 it re p ct to he l rm 6 o g the p p s tance to the movement ofthe leg during the exercises.

The angles of the weight arm with respect to the leg arm can be alteredso that the resistance is greatest at the point of greatest muscle forceof the muscle group being e e c ed It will be noted that in the deviceas shown the exercise unit 12 is detachably mounted on the plinth orexercise table 11. The exercise unit may be readily shifted from oneside of the table to the other to facilitate the giving of the exerciseto either of the patients legs. It will also he noted that the leg rest51 is normally not attached to the patient which greatly facilitatesgiving the exercises. However, if the patients hip rotators are weak orparaly zed, the patients leg may be strapped to the leg rest 51 to makeit possible to exercise the quadriceps femoris and the hamstring groups.Also by strapping the patients leg in a rotative position, emphasis onexercise of inner or outer hamstring muscles is feasible. Exercise ofthe thigh muscle groups is practicable even though the patients anklejoint or foot may be involved because the leg rest 51 contacts thepatients leg above the ankle joint.

Our device can also be used for below knee amputees merely by moving theguide member 91 upwardly along the leg arm 42. As the stump moves, thedevice will operate as it does for a normal extremity with the samepositions and resistance patterns possible. The device may also be usedby children merely by shifting the guide member 91 to the properposition.

Our device can also be used as a graded assistive exercise apparatus byhaving the weight arm describe a downward arc while the leg is movingthrough its normal motion. If the antagonistic muscle group is unable tocarry the required assistive weight, the physical therapist in chargecan manually return the device to the starting position at eachrepetition of the exercise.

Any amount of assistance can be obtained at any point through the rangeof motion and therefore can be utilized to give the most assistance atthe weakest point in the range of motion. The leg rest 51 is placed at acontact point opposite that used in the resistive exercises, i. e., forassistive quadriceps femoris exercises the leg rest engages the leg onits posterial aspect. Graded assistive For hamstrings, the face-lyingposition is used while for quadriceps femoris the sitting position isused.

It is apparent from the foregoing, that we have provided an exercisedevice which is particularly suited for giving exercise to thequadriceps femoris and the hamstring muscle groups.

him g We claim:

1. In an exercise device for quadriceps femoris and hamstring musclegroups of the leg, an exercise table, and an exercise unit detachablymounted on said table, said exercise unit comprising a mounting armhaving one end connected to said table, a hub on the other end of saidmounting arm, a shaft journalled in said hub, a leg arm having one endfixed to said shaft for rotating the same, said leg arm normallydepending from said shaft, a weight arm having one end mounted on saidshaft for rotation with said shaft, weight carrying means slidablymounted on said weight arm for adjustment longitudinally of the weightarm, means for shifting the angular position of said weight arm withrespect to said leg arm, the angular relationship between the leg armand the weight arm determining the resistance or assistance given tomovement of the leg and indicating means mounted on said shaft forindicating the range of movement of said leg arm.

2. In an exercise device for quadriceps femoris and hamstring musclegroups of the leg, an exercise table, and an exercise unit detachablymounted on said table, said exercise unit comprising a mounting armsupported on said table, a hub on one end of said mounting arm, a shaftjournalled in said hub, a leg arm having one end fixed to said shaft forrotation of said shaft, said leg arm normally depending from said shaft,leg engaging means slidably mounted on said leg arm for adjustmentlongitudinally of the leg arm, a selector dial fixed to said shaft andhaving a plurality of holes adjacent its periphery, a weight arm havingone end rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent said selector dial, apin slidably mounted in said weight arm and adapted to engage the holesin said selector dial whereby the weight arm will be rotated as theshaft is rotated, said pin allowing the angular position of the weightarm to be shifted with respect to the position of said leg arm theangular relationship between the leg arm and the weight arm determiningthe resistance or assistance given to movement of the leg and weightcarrying means slidably mounted on said weight arm for adjustmentlongitudinally of the weight arm.

3. In an exercise device for quadriceps femoris and hamstring musclegroups of the leg, an exercise table having at least two legs at one endof said table, a retention socket mounted on each of said legs, and anexercise unit adapted to be mounted in either of said sockets so thatexercise may be given to either the right or left leg of the patient,said exercise unit comprising a mounting arm, a hub on one end of saidmounting arm, the free end of said mounting arm being adapted to seat ineither of said sockets to carry said exercise unit in predeterminedpositions, a shaft journalled in said hub, a leg arm having one endfixed to said shaft for rotating the same, said leg arm normallydepending from said shaft, a weight arm having one end mounted on saidshaft for rotation with said shaft, weight carrying means slidablymounted on said weight arm for adjustment longitudinally of the weightarm, means for shifting the angular position of said weight arm withrespect to said leg arm,

the angular relationship between the leg arm and the weight armdetermining the resistance or assistance given to movement of the legand indicating means mounted on said shaft for indicating the range ofmovement of said leg arm.

4. In an exercise device for quadriceps femoris and hamstring musclegroups of the leg, an exercise table having at least two legs at one endof said table, a retention socket mounted on each of said legs, and anexercise unit adapted to be mounted in either of said sockets so thatexercise may be given to either the right or left leg of the patient,said exercise unit comprising a mounting arm, a hub mounted on one endof said mounting arm, the free end of said mounting arm being adapted toseat in either of said sockets to carry said exercise unit inpredetermined positions, a shaft journalled in said hub, a leg armhaving one end fixed to said shaft for rotation of said shaft, said legarm normally depending from said shaft, leg engaging means slidablymounted on said leg arm for adjustment longitudinally of the leg arm, aselector dial fixed to said shaft and having a plurality of holesadjacent its periphery, a weight arm having one end rotatably mounted onsaid shaft adjacent said selector dial, a pin slidably mounted in saidweight arm and adapted to engage the holes in said selector dial, meansyieldably urging said pin towards the holes in said selector dial, saidpin when retracted allowing the angular position of the weight arm to beshifted with respect to the position of the leg arm, the angularrelationship between the leg arm and the weight arm determining theresistance or assistance given to movement of the leg and weightcarrying means slidably mounted on said weight arm for adjustmentlongitudinally of the weight arm.

5. In an exercise unit for a limb, a shaft, means journalled on saidshaft for rotatably carrying said shaft, an exercise arm having one endfixed to said shaft for rotation of said shaft, limb engaging meansmounted on said exercise arm for adjustment longitudinally of theexercise arm, a selector dial fixed to said shaft and having a pluralityof holes adjacent its periphery, a weight arm having one end rotatablymounted on said shaft adjacent said selector dial, a pin slidablymounted on said weight arm and adapted to engage the holes in saidselector dial, means for yieldably urging said pin towards the holes insaid selector dial, said pin when in engagement with one of said holescausing said weight arm to rotate with said exercise arm, said pin whenretracted permitting the angular position of the weight arm to beshifted with respect to the position of the exercise arm the angularrelationship between the leg arm and the Weight arm determining theresistance or assistance given to movement of the limb and weightcarrying means slidably mounted on said Weight arm for adjustmentlongitudinally of the weight arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,007,526 Caro Oct. 31, 1911 2,387,966 Zander Oct. 30, 1945 2,542,074Bierman Feb. 20, 1951

